Lexington One names 2026–27 school-level teachers of the year
May 19, 2026
Lexington County School District One’s 32 schools recently selected one certified educator to represent them in the district’s 2026–27 Teacher of the Year selection process.
The newest class of Lexington One Teachers of the Year includes Beechwood Middle’s Dr. Casey Monette, Carolina Springs Elementary’s Ellie Crews, Carolina Springs Middle’s Susan Tate, Centerville Elementary’s Dr. Antony Lewis, Deerfield Elementary’s Lacy Hinson, Forts Pond Elementary’s Ashley Smith, Gilbert Elementary’s Lillian Aleman, Gilbert High’s Jordan Robertson, Gilbert Middle’s Edie Burritt, Lake Murray Elementary’s Jennifer Cammann, Lakeside Middle’s Kayla Yost, Lexington Elementary’s Melissa Hudson, Lexington High’s Trevor Hutson, Lexington Technology Center’s Patrick McNatt, Meadow Glen Elementary’s Amy Jordan, Meadow Glen Middle’s Abby Chisholm, Midway Elementary’s Lauren Stuckey, New Providence Elementary’s Becca Matthews, Oak Grove Elementary’s Anne Fox, Pelion Elementary’s Savanna Blackwell, Pelion High’s Alexandra Smith, Pelion Middle’s Wayne Bruner, Pleasant Hill Elementary’s Abbey Grace Grubbs, Pleasant Hill Middle’s Jennifer Martin, Red Bank Elementary’s Ashton Matuszek, River Bluff High’s Catherine Higginbotham, Rocky Creek Elementary’s Amber Youmans, Saxe Gotha Elementary’s Rachel Cooper, South Lake Elementary’s Becky Kubinak, White Knoll Elementary’s Leah Sox, White Knoll High’s Sarah Grace Williams and White Knoll Middle’s Tessa Asbill.
These poised and articulate educators possess a superior ability to impart knowledge to students and inspire them to love learning. They keep abreast of current educational theories and practices through professional development; devote time and energy to activities that improve instruction for children; show examples of innovative practices in their classrooms; contribute to the field of education by conducting seminars and workshops and supporting fellow teachers; earn the respect and admiration of students, parents and co-workers; and play active roles in their communities and schools.
Over the course of the next several months and during the 2026–27 school year, these teachers will compete in the Teacher of the Year process, which features two rounds of judging. First, all 32 school-level Teachers of the Year submit a written application responding to specific questions. This round uses four teams of judges to methodically and carefully review and score applications. Then, another team of judges observes each school-level Teacher of the Year in their classrooms. There is one rubric for scoring the applications and another rubric for scoring the observations. The teacher with the highest overall total becomes District Teacher of the Year.
The celebration of all school-level Teachers of the Year and the announcement of the district’s new Teacher of the Year will take place on March 18, 2027, at the Lexington One Performing Arts Center at White Knoll High School.
